The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that approximately 170 people die each year from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from something other than an automobile. It lists leaking furnaces as one of the causes of these deaths. It is important to have your furnace inspected in the fall so we can make sure it is not leaking carbon monoxide. Call us right away to schedule an appointment. If you experience any of the problems listed below, shut off your furnace immediately and call us.
Visible Soot
Inspect your furnace regularly to make certain you don’t have any soot building up on the outside of the unit. The soot may be black, its known color, or it may be brown and look like dirt. The soot can also be yellow. Any sooty material building up on the outside of your furnace is a sign that it is leaking carbon monoxide. Do not take chances, as carbon monoxide is fatal. Do not run the furnace until you give us a chance to inspect it and repair any problems, especially any carbon monoxide leaks.
Exhaust Odors
You probably already know that carbon monoxide does not have an odor. This is why it is so dangerous. It also doesn’t have a color; it’s literally a silent killer. This being said, if the furnace is leaking carbon monoxide, it may also be leaking gas. As such, you may smell exhaust around the furnace or the odor of rotten eggs. This isn’t always the case, however, so make sure you have plenty of working carbon monoxide detectors around your home to alert your family of a CO leak.
Yellow Flame
Finally, when you inspect your furnace regularly, inspect the flame in the pilot light, as well. Make sure the flame is blue. If the flame is yellow, the furnace is leaking carbon monoxide. A yellow flame means there is extra gas in it. Consequently, carbon monoxide is a byproduct of that gas. The flame should be blue with no additional coloring or yellow coloring that is barely noticeable. If the flame is yellow, do not run your furnace, as you could introduce carbon monoxide into your home.
We can help. Call us today to schedule a service appointment so we can come out and inspect your furnace. We will not only make certain that it is not leaking carbon monoxide but also make sure it will run safely and efficiently all winter long.